New Delhi/Bangalore, Jun 10: Voicing "disappointment" over Tahawwur Rana's acquittal by a US court on the charge of plotting the Mumbai attacks, India today said it will soon take a decision on filing a charge sheet against him and LeT operative David Headley in an Indian court.
"We are disappointed that Rana was acquitted on the count of conspiracy to provide material support to the Mumbai terrorist attacks," Secretary, Internal Security, in the Ministry of Home Affairs, U K Bansal, said in a statement.
In Bangalore, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said "we are not entirely satisfied" with the verdict and pointed out that "the fact remains that throughout the last few months, the trial has (shown) substantial linkages between the two (Rana and Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley) facing the trial and on Mumbai attack".
Bansal said the government has taken note of the verdict pronounced by a US District Court in the Rana case following the finding by the jury that the Pakistani-Canadian was guilty on two of the three counts.
Rana has been found guilty on one count of 'conspiracy to provide material support to the terror plot in Denmark' and the other of 'providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba'.
The jury acquitted Rana of conspiracy to provide material support to the Mumbai terror attacks.
Bansal said the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the case against Headley, Rana and others, has decided to wait for proceedings to conclude in the US court before filing a charge sheet in an Indian court against the accused.
The NIA has also sought certain documents and evidence that were produced in the Chicago court and expects to receive them.
"After examining the verdict in the US court and after reviewing the documents and evidence that it expects to receive, NIA will take a decision on filing a charge sheet against Headley, Rana and others in an Indian court," Bansal said.
He said one must remember that Rana was tried in a US court in accordance with the US law. Criminal trials in the US are jury trials and there are special rules governing such jury trials.
"While Rana's lawyers have stated that they will file an appeal against the verdict, it is not yet clear whether the US authorities would also file an appeal against the acquittal on one count of conspiracy," he said.
Krishna also said that "Judicial process has taken a particular view. We are not entirely satisfied. It is a judicial process. We can't dictate. That is the law of the land". PTI
